Name Change Documents and Name Differences: Sworn Translation for Germany
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Your name is written one way in your passport and another way in your birth certificate. Maybe it was transliterated from Arabic or Cyrillic differently, or your surname changed after marriage. Now a German office asks you to explain the difference. We translate the documents that prove it, such as court decisions, name change certificates, affidavits and gazette notices, as a sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) into German.
- Court decisions, name change certificates, civil registry extracts, affidavits, gazette and newspaper notices
- Every name variant copied or transliterated letter by letter, never "corrected"
- Your passport spelling added in a translator's note, so the office can compare
- PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days)
Fixed price from €39 · You see the price before you pay
How do I get my name change documents translated for Germany?
Upload a clear scan of every document that shows your name change or your name variants. A translator sworn by a German court translates them into German, including stamps and notary seals. You get a PDF first. The signed paper original follows by post. The German office then decides how it uses your documents. Read how it works.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who translates | Our partner translators sworn by German courts (beeidigt / ermächtigt) |
| German name of the document | Namensänderung (name change); Eidesstattliche Erklärung (affidavit) |
| Price | From €39 (English) / from €49 (all other languages) per document, shown before you pay |
| Delivery | PDF in 3 working days, signed original by post (usually 1–3 working days) |
| What to upload | Every page incl. stamps; your passport photo page |
| Where to verify the translator | justiz-dolmetscher.de |
Why is my name spelled differently on my documents?
Most differences come from transliteration. A name written in Arabic, Cyrillic, Persian or an Indian script has no single Latin spelling. Your passport office, your university and a German translator may each spell it a little differently. Other reasons are a surname change after marriage, an official name change or a missing family name.
| Situation | Example | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic or Persian script | محمد on a Syrian or Afghan document: Mohammad, Mohamad or Muhammad | Translator's note with your passport spelling |
| Soviet-era documents | An old Ukrainian certificate in Russian gives Александр (Aleksandr), the passport says OLEKSANDR | Translator's note; sometimes a civil register extract |
| Turkish letters | Gül Çelik in the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği, GUL CELIK on a foreign document | Names kept with ü, ç, ş, ğ, ı as printed |
| Official name change | Court decision or name change certificate | Sworn translation of the decision or certificate |
| No family name | Some Afghan documents, Indian passports with only Kaur or Singh | Ask the Standesamt about a name declaration |
Which name document do you have? Documents by country
| Country | Typical document (local name) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Court decision on a name change, updated Nüfus Kayıt Örneği | Apostille and sworn translation usually needed. |
| Ukraine | Certificate of change of name, extract from the civil register | Apostille issued by the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice. |
| Russia | Свидетельство о перемене имени (certificate of change of name) from the ZAGS | Apostille from the Russian authorities. |
| Syria, Iraq | Court decision on a name correction, civil registry extract | Arabic, sometimes Kurdish. The office decides on legalisation. |
| Afghanistan | Tazkira, affidavit about your name | Dari or Pashto. The office decides at its discretion. |
| India | Affidavit on stamp paper, Gazette notice, newspaper notice | See the India example below. |
How we write names in your translation
A translator sworn by a German court keeps every name as it is on your document: same order, same spelling, same parts. Names in Latin letters are copied letter by letter. Names in other scripts are transliterated. We do not expand "Mohd." or initials, and we do not drop suffixes like -bhai. A different passport spelling goes in a translator's note.
| On your document | In your passport | In our translation |
|---|---|---|
| Александр Ткаченко (Russian, Soviet-era) | OLEKSANDR TKACHENKO | Aleksandr Tkačenko (translator's note: passport spelling OLEKSANDR TKACHENKO) |
| محمد رحيمي (Dari) | MOHAMMAD RAHIMI | Mohammad Rahimi |
| Maheshbhai Patel (Indian affidavit) | MAHESH PATEL | Maheshbhai Patel (translator's note: passport spelling MAHESH PATEL) |
My documents show no surname, or only Kaur or Singh
We translate your name exactly as it is on your document. We do not add a surname. We do not turn Kaur or Singh into a family name. In Germany, the Standesamt may ask for a name declaration (Namenserklärung). In some cases, for example after naturalisation, it may offer an Angleichungserklärung under Art. 47 EGBGB. With this, a missing first name or surname can be set. Only the Standesamt decides this, and we give no advice on it. It often comes up at your marriage at the Standesamt or when registering your baby's birth.
Will a German office accept my name documents?
The German office decides this, not us. Some offices take an affidavit as supporting proof for a name difference. Others ask for more, for example a court decision, a corrected certificate or a new passport. Ask your office what it needs before you order. We translate each document exactly, so the office can compare the names itself.
Example India: affidavits and gazette notices
Indians often prove a name difference with a notarised affidavit on stamp paper, a one-and-same-person affidavit or a notice in the Gazette of India. The Gazette is no longer printed since 2015; download your notice as a PDF from egazette.gov.in. Adult name changes appear in Part IV, and states publish their own gazettes. We translate your entry with the gazette header, number and date. An Indian apostille is not valid in Germany; see our document verification guide.
See what your translation will look like
1 · Original (dummy data)
Non Judicial
Government of Punjab
Rs. 100
One Hundred Rupees
AB 000000
Affidavit
(One and the same person)
I, Harpreet Kaur, wife of Gurpreet Singh, resident of House No. 112, Sample Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:
- 1.That my name has been recorded as HARPREET KAUR in my passport and as HARPREET KAUR SANDHU in my marriage certificate.
- 2.That both names belong to one and the same person, i.e. me.
- 3.That this affidavit is made for submission to the German authorities and wherever else it may be required.
Deponent
Verification
Verified at Ludhiana on 10-09-2026 that the contents of the above affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and nothing has been concealed therein.
Notary Public
Ludhiana
2 · Beglaubigte Übersetzung (German)
Beglaubigte Übersetzung aus dem Englischen
[Stempelpapier: NON JUDICIAL, Regierung von Punjab, 100 Rupien (Rs. 100, einhundert Rupien), Seriennummer AB 000000]
Eidesstattliche Erklärung
(Identitätserklärung – One and Same Person Affidavit)
Ich, Harpreet Kaur, Ehefrau von Gurpreet Singh, wohnhaft in House No. 112, Sample Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab, versichere hiermit feierlich und erkläre Folgendes:
- 1.Mein Name ist in meinem Reisepass als HARPREET KAUR und in meiner Heiratsurkunde als HARPREET KAUR SANDHU eingetragen.
- 2.Beide Namen gehören ein und derselben Person, nämlich mir.
- 3.Diese Erklärung wird zur Vorlage bei den deutschen Behörden und überall dort abgegeben, wo sie benötigt wird.
[Unterschrift] Die Erklärende
Bestätigung (Verification)
Bestätigt in Ludhiana am 10.09.2026, dass der Inhalt der vorstehenden Erklärung nach meinem besten Wissen wahr und richtig ist und nichts verschwiegen wurde.
[Rechteckstempel: ATTESTED (beglaubigt)]
[Rundstempel: Notary Public, Ludhiana, Punjab, Reg.-Nr. 0000] [Unterschrift unleserlich] Notar (Notary Public), Ludhiana
Die Richtigkeit und Vollständigkeit der vorstehenden Übersetzung aus der englischen Sprache wird hiermit bescheinigt. Der Übersetzung lag ein Scan des Originals vor.
Musterstadt, den 14.10.2026
Erika Mustermann
Für die englische Sprache allgemein ermächtigte Übersetzerin beim Landgericht Musterstadt
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The sample shows an example document with dummy data. Every translation includes the full text with headers and serial numbers, every name variant letter by letter, descriptions of seals, stamps, signatures and photos, and the sworn translator's certification, signature and stamp.
Common problems with name documents, and how we handle them
- 1Only one line is sent. People sometimes crop a gazette or registry page to their entry. Please send the full page with header and date.
- 2Text is hard to read. We translate what is readable and mark the rest as "[illegible]".
- 3Name order is different. Some names put the father's name or surname first, or leave the surname out. We keep the original order.
- 4Several documents, several spellings. Order them together. Each translation keeps its own spelling, with the same passport note, so the office sees the link.
When do you need your name documents in German?
- When names do not match for your marriage at the Standesamt
- For your citizenship application, if names differ across documents
- At the Ausländerbehörde for your residence permit or permanent residence
- Together with your birth certificate, a marriage certificate or degree certificates with an old name
What language are your documents in?
We translate directly into German from Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish (Kurmanji and Sorani), Dari, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Ukrainian, Russian and English. Indian affidavits and the Gazette of India are often in English; state gazettes and newspaper notices may be in Hindi or a regional language.
Name change document translation: price and delivery
| Option | What you get | Delivery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Sworn translation, PDF + signed original by post | PDF in 3 working days | from €39 (English) / from €49 (all other languages) |
| Express | Same as standard, prioritised | PDF in 1 working day | + €15 |
| Affidavit + gazette + newspaper notice (India) | All name documents in one order | PDF in 3 working days | from €109 (English) / from €139 (other languages) |
All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.
Each document has a fixed price. You see it before you pay. You can also see our price list.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).
If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.
What should I upload?
- Every page of the decision, certificate or affidavit, including stamps and apostille
- The full gazette, registry or newspaper page, not just your entry
- Your passport page, so we can add your passport spelling in a note
Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter.
Frequently asked questions about name change document translation
Is the translation valid in all German states?
Yes. A sworn translation is valid throughout Germany. The office makes the final decision. We cannot guarantee a decision.
My name is spelled differently on my passport and birth certificate. What do I do in Germany?
Ask your office which proof it needs. We translate each document exactly as written, with your passport spelling in a translator's note. The office then decides if it also wants an affidavit, a court decision or a corrected certificate.
Why does my Arabic or Cyrillic name look different in the translation?
Names in non-Latin scripts are transliterated, and there is often more than one Latin spelling. We add your passport spelling in a translator's note, so the office can see it is the same person.
My old Ukrainian documents are in Russian. Does that matter?
Soviet-era documents often show the Russian form of a name, while your passport shows the Ukrainian form. We translate the name as written and add your passport spelling in a note.
Will a German office accept my one-and-same-person affidavit?
The office decides. Some take an affidavit as supporting proof. Others ask for more, like a gazette notice or a court decision. We translate every name variant exactly as written.
Can you change the spelling of my name in the translation?
No. A sworn translation shows your name exactly as written in the original. A different passport spelling goes in a translator's note.
Can you make an affidavit for me?
No. We only translate. You make an affidavit with a notary or the competent authority in your country or at its mission.
Sort out your name documents today
Upload your court decision, certificate, affidavit or gazette and get your fixed price before you pay.
Questions? Email us: info@germantranslators.de